Director/Associate Director, Anti-Poverty Advocacy

Staff reporting to this position: Advocacy and Field Coordinator and Communications and Advocacy Associate

Department: Poverty to Prosperity Program

Position classification: Exempt, full time

Summary

American Progress has an immediate opening for a Director/Associate Director of Anti-Poverty Advocacy for the Poverty to Prosperity Program. The ideal candidate will thrive in a fast-paced workplace where juggling a range of diverse projects and priorities is a constant. The Director/Associate Director of Anti-Poverty Advocacy will play a central role in shaping and implementing the team’s advocacy strategy to advance policies that cut poverty and boost opportunity, and stop harmful policies that would exacerbate poverty. This position will work closely with the program’s policy staff and across teams at American Progress, as well as with a broad range of national and local partner organizations, elected officials, the media, and influencers to drive advocacy efforts and campaigns around American Progress’ anti-poverty policy priorities.

The Director/Associate Director of Anti-Poverty Advocacy will lead the day-to-day management of the Hands Off campaign—past coalition work must be a strength. The Director/Associate Director of Anti-Poverty Advocacy will also work closely with the editors of TalkPoverty and the producers of Off-Kilter, American Progress’ weekly podcast on poverty and inequality, to coordinate coverage of priority issues and center the voices of people who are directly affected by poverty. The Director/Associate Director of Anti-Poverty Advocacy will manage two advocacy staff: a Communications and Advocacy Associate who provides day-to-day campaign support, and a Field and Outreach Coordinator who oversees a national network of low-income storytellers, advocates, and service providers to center the voices of people directly affected by poverty in media and advocacy efforts.

Responsibilities:

• Support the Vice President of the Poverty to Prosperity Program in developing and executing advocacy and campaign strategies that build political and public support for policies that cut poverty and expand opportunity.
• Provide day-to-day leadership of the Hands Off campaign, which brings together more than 30 leading organizations to stop cuts to low-income programs.
• Work with national, state, and local coalition partners to advance proactive priorities and stop harmful proposals from taking effect at the federal and state levels.
• Work with the Vice President and across teams at American Progress to develop and drive a winning communications and messaging strategy in conjunction with a broader narrative change effort on poverty.
• Work with other teams at American Progress to leverage the organization’s full communications, outreach, and grassroots resources toward building support for policy priorities.
• Draft and script advocacy materials, including talking points, op-eds, video scripts, and social media guides.
• Supervise two advocacy staff on the Poverty to Prosperity Program.
• Support the Vice President with grant reporting, fundraising, budgeting, and other team administrative duties as needed.
• Perform other duties as required.

Requirements and qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree.
• At least six years of experience in communications or advocacy for a nonprofit, advocacy, grassroots group, or campaign.
• Experience with and commitment to working with low-income and other historically marginalized communities.
• Experience with and commitment to supervising and developing staff.
• Exceptional project management experience with very strong attention to detail and the ability to manage quick-turnaround deliverables, as well as long-term strategy implementation, reporting, and metric tracking.
• Strong interpersonal skills.
• Experience and strong interest in coalition work with national organizational partners.
• Ability to work under pressure and meet tight deadlines.
• Experience implementing an issue-based communications strategy, including utilizing social and traditional media effectively.
• Excellent writing, editing, and verbal communication skills, as well as an ability to convey complex issues on a range of topics in clear and simple terms.
• Self-starter, entrepreneurial, and creative thinker.
• Ability to absorb key policy issues and debates quickly and thoroughly.
• Commitment to the organization’s and team’s mission and goals.
• Ability to work individually and as part of a team.
• Demonstrated understanding of how race, gender, disability, LGBTQ status, and involvement with the justice system intersect with poverty and inequality.

To Apply

Please follow the link below to the online application. When completing the application, be sure to combine your cover letter and resume/CV into one Word or PDF file and upload this combined document. The system does not allow for multiple files.

This announcement will remain posted until the position is filled. No phone calls, please.
Please note that only those individuals whose qualifications match the current needs of this position will be considered applicants and will receive responses from American Progress.
Thank you for your interest in American Progress.

Additional information

American Progress operates two separate nonprofit organizations to maximize the progressive agenda: the Center for American Progress and the Center for American Progress Action Fund. This job posting refers collectively to the two organizations under the name “American Progress.” The Center for American Progress is a nonpartisan 501(c)(3) tax-exempt research and educational institute. It undertakes research, public education and a limited amount of lobbying. The Center for American Progress Action Fund is a nonpartisan 501(c)(4) tax-exempt organization dedicated to achieving progress through action. It works to transform progressive ideas into policy through rapid-response communications, legislative action, grassroots organizing, political advocacy, and partnerships with other progressive leaders. The organizations share office space and employees.